Talk of cabinet shuffle reemerges
Talk of another cabinet shuffle is in the air: It’s that time of the year, folks. Roughly three months since the swearing in of a new cabinet, there is already talk of another shuffle. Disappointing results from certain ministries, including one from the economic group, has allegedly prompted a decision to replace ministers, senior government sources tell Al Masry Al Youm in what is so far entirely uncorroborated chatter. The “disappointment” reportedly comes from the presidency itself, which met with a number of ministers before Ramadan to discuss their shortcomings. The move will supposedly take place following the Eid break. On the chopping block: the education Minister, likely because of the recent cheating scandal; irrigation, which recently announced that Egypt is in the midst of severe drought; and health, possibly over the ministry’s handling of a shortage of compounds used to treat medical conditions. The presidency was also not impressed with the continued blackouts in certain parts of the country and water shortages during Ramadan. We believe that a story speculating about a possible post-Eid cabinet shuffle is constitutionally mandated every year during the first two weeks of Ramadan.